Film director Benita Raphan died in January 2021 at the age of 58; her obituary was published in the New York Times. Learn about her husband and family.
Benita Raphan was a visual biographer and filmmaker. Her career starting from London and Paris to New York, focused on making a cinematic diary examining the eccentric and brilliant inner lives of important cultural figures such as Paul Erdös, R. Buckminster Fuller, Helen Keller, and Emily Dickinson.
Benita Raphan Obituary
Benita’s Obituary was published on March 4, 2021, in The New York Times magazine.
The obituary honored her interests in revisiting a life or a career from the very start, from the beginning.
“Benita Raphan, Maker of Lyrical Short Films, Is Dead at 58” by BY PENELOPE GREEN via NYT https://t.co/ZAeXiiOXjY pic.twitter.com/OaSDXl1nnw
— Diana Naranjo Music (@dianasongwriter) April 11, 2021
She was known for making films about the eccentric and inner lives of iconic geniuses. “Great Genius and Profound Stupidity,” “Pete The Dog,” “Up To Astonishment,” and “2+2” were some of her most loved movies.
She received Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, US & Canada award for her exceptional contribution to arts.
The cause of death of the writer and director is yet to be revealed.
Did She Have Wikipedia?
No, Benita Raphan did not have a Wikipedia page dedicated to her.
However, she is mentioned in Wikipedia pages of Filmmaker magazine and “House of Hill” album by Brad Mehldau for her artwork.
The films directed and written by her appeared on the Sundance Channel, HBO, PBS, and in the UK. They were screened at many film festivals, including the Tribeca, Sundance, and Telluride, and at the Walker Art Center.
Benita Raphan, visionary filmmaker, dies at the age of 58 #BenitaRaphan #filmmaker #art #newspaper
Read more about this here: https://t.co/bDyruQPx12 pic.twitter.com/4dWYJqdz3Q
— ArtDaily, The First Art Newspaper on the Net (@artdaily) March 4, 2021
Her artistic journey began when she got an internship with renowned photographer Albert Watson after graduating high school from City-As-School. She earned a BFA from New York’s School of Visual Arts.
She got her MFA from the Royal College of Art, London, and went on to Paris to work with fashion designers Girbaud and Yohji Yamamoto.
Raphan’s first film won an award from British Council Arts. Her last movie was “Up to Astonishment,” based on Emily Dickinson.
Benita Raphan’s Husband And Family
There is no information on Benita’s husband and children.
Benita Raphan is survived by her family, including her mother, Roslyn Raphan, and her sister, Melissa Raphan.
Her niece and nieces are Sam, Matt, Julia, and Pete.
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